New York, NY (September 23, 2020) – National nonprofit Girls Inc. has received a grant of $1,142,222 from Lilly Endowment Inc. Girls Inc. National Resource Center, located in Indianapolis, will devote these funds to accelerating the creation and dissemination of critical programming to the network of 78 affiliates. Funding will support virtual learning programs for girls and trauma-sensitive resources to meet the needs of girls in Indiana, and across the U.S. and Canada.

With the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the capacity of Girls Inc. to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of girls is critical to their wellbeing and the affiliates that support them. Escalating social conflict in cities across the country has created additional barriers to girls being able to thrive, particularly girls of color.

“The emotional trauma children and teens are experiencing is immeasurable, and an epidemic in itself,” said Girls Inc. President and CEO, Stephanie J. Hull, Ph.D. “We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for this generous investment, which will enable Girls Inc. to meet the immediate needs of girls, explore longer-term strategies to integrate virtual learning more broadly, and share best practices and resources to reach and serve girls and youth in general more effectively.”

An important component of the project is the commitment to disseminating lessons learned in order to support youth-serving organizations outside of the Girls Inc. network, in Indiana and beyond. Girls Inc. joins Lilly Endowment in recognizing that all of these organizations are valuable partners to schools and families in helping students contend with emotional trauma, navigate new school environments, and build a foundation for future success.

For five decades, Lilly Endowment has regularly provided grants to Girls Inc. to support numerous efforts—capital, programmatic, and operational—that have been essential to the organization’s meeting its mission.

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About Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. Our comprehensive approach to whole girl development equips girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. These positive outcomes are achieved through mentoring relationships, girls-only safe spaces, and evidence-based programming. Informed by girls and their families, we also advocate for legislation and policies to increase opportunities for all girls. Join us at girlsinc.org.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion. The Endowment funds significant programs throughout the United States, especially in the field of religion. However, it maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana.